2021 has been designated as the European Year of Rail by the European Parliament. This week MEPs strongly endorsed a plan to enhance rail travel in the year ahead. Although it has been a year to forget for many travel operators, 2021 will mark a boost for rail travellers as rail companies and European agencies work together to boost European railways as part of a post-Covid recovery.

Ciarán Cuffe Green MEP for Dublin who sits on the European Parliament’s Transport Committee welcomed the move.

He said: “I am delighted the European Parliament has confirmed 2021 as the European Year of Rail. For passengers, it is a safe and green way to travel and a fantastic alternative to air travel. Freight rail played an important part across Europe during the various Covid-19 lockdowns as a means of transporting goods and medicines.

“Although most MEPs are still working speaking and voting remotely from the European Parliament’s seat in Brussels, we realise that role has a key role to play in tackling climate change. The European Year of Rail will reduce the red tape for freight and passengers travelling across Europe. We’re also expecting more investment in our railways as part of the European Green Deal. There are ambitious plans to restore more night trains, as well as bringing back the famous Trans-Europe Express train network immortalised in an album by the band Kraftwerk.

“Creating a Single European Rail Area for passengers and freight will simplify rail travel, and we’re expecting stronger rights to be put in place for rail passengers. Rail is the greenest solution for long-distance travel, as pollution and energy use is much lower than aviation. Rail travel also has a significant role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions - a primary goal of the EU.

“As a regular rail traveller across Europe, I am delighted the European Parliament has marked 2021 to be the European Year of Rail. Freight rail played an important part across Europe during the various Covid-19 lockdowns as a means of transporting goods and medicines.

“Closer to home, we’ll be looking at practical improvements such as funding safety works and capital improvements to the rail network, improving bike and storage facilities on trains and progressing the electrification of rail services to decrease journey times and emissions. Improved rail commuter services in our cities such as Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway can reduce traffic on our roads and get more people to work on time as the economy recovers.”